Theatrical apparatus.



RT. F. SULLIVAN.

THEATRIGAL APPARATUS. APPLIUATION HLvEnI-nne, 19 oa Patented Nov. 1,1910.A

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J. I. SULLIVAN. THEATBIGAL APPARATUS. APrLIoATIoN FILED FEB. e, 190s.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

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JOI-IN F. SULLIVAN, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

THEATRICAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1,1910.

Application filed February 6, 1908. Serial No. 414,471.

To all 'whom tt may concern:

Be it known that. I, JOHN F. SULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, county of New York, and State of New York,have invented certain new and uset'ul Improvements in TheatricalApparatus, fully described and represented in the followingspecilication and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.y

This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus fortheatrical and similar exhibition purposes.

In some theatrical and like exhibitions, certain scenesrequire that amoving train, composed of an engine cars, shall pass on the stage beforethe view of an audience. The ordinary theatrical stages are not ofsufficient dimensions to permit of the production thereon of an engineand the number of cars required to compose the train. It is necessary,therefore, to provide means by which the eect or illusion of a movingtrain may be produced, the car and engine construct-ion emloyed being ofsuch character and dimensions that the ordinary theater stage willaccommodate it.

It is one object of the present invention to provide means for producingthe effec of a moving train, the train apparently beinO' made up of anumber of cars.

2It is a further object of the invention to produce a track system andan engine and car construction for producing this effect which willoccupy the smallest possible amount of stage space, and which can beused effectively on any ordinary theater stage.

-It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved engineand car construction for carrying out the aforesaid objects.

With these and other objects in view, the invent-ion consists generallyin providing a track system including what may be termed the main track,which has an exhibiting portion on which the train may pass in view ofthe audience; a second track, which may be termed a storage track, onwhich a portion of the train is temporarily stored and concealed fromthe audience while on such storage track; and a third track, which maybe termed a side track, onto which the engine is run after it has oncepassed in view and a number ofv nary theatrical stage,

of the audience, the cars of the train continuing to pass around themain track, the construction being such that after the engine has beendrawn oli on the side track, two ends of one car (where only one car isemployed) or the front and back ends of two cars (where two cars areused) come together and form a continuous construction, which is soarranged as to extend completely around the main track. This carconstruction being kept moving around the main track after the enginehas been switched off, gives the effect of a continuous train composedo' a number of separate cars. Means are provided for moving the cars andkeeping the cars moving as long as is necessary to give the desiredeffect.

For a full understanding of the'invention, reference will now be had tothe accompanying drawings, in connection with which the invention willnow be described in detail.

In said drawings :dFigure 1 is a view in perspective of a stage, showingthe engine and a portion of a train in its exhibiting position; Fig. 2is a diagrammatic plan view of the 'track system showing the engine andcars in non-exhibiting position, and showing the masking in sectionwhich is used for concealing the various parts of the track system andtrain from the view of the audience; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectionshowing the car construction employed; Fig. 4: is a side view lookingfrom the inside showing the car construction at the meeting ends of thecar or cars; Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the engine constructiontaken on line 5 5 of Figs. 6 and 7 Fig. 6 is a side view of a part ofthe engine construction shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view, partlyin section, of the track system, showing the driving mechanism formoving the cars around the track; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view ot'the switch mechanism shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a cross section of thesame taken on line 99 of Fig. 7 Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of aportion of the car construction; Fig. 11 is a detail view showing thetripping mechanism by which the switch mechanism is operated, and Fig.12 is a detail view in section, the section being taken on lines 12-12of Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring now to said drawings illustrating one construction objects ofthe invention, 1 indicates an ordiwhich is of any usual foraccomplishing the or desired construction; 2 indicates the sides orwings, and the usual drop curtain or drop is indicated by the numeral 3.

For convenience the track system the arrangement and construction ofwhich constitute oneof the important features of the invention, will befirst described. This track system is of such character that it may bepositioned on the ordinary theatrical stage, and is so arranged as toeconomize stage space as far as possible. The specific construction andarrangement of said track system may be somewhat varied. As beforestated, however, the preferred construction will include a main track4t, which has an exhibiting portion 5; a storage track 6; and a sidetrack 7, the arrangement and construction of which tracks will now bedescribed in detail, beginning' with the main track 4. This main trackmay be of various configurations. In the best constructions it will beof the shape shown, that is, elliptical in plan, as such shape is foundto occupy the least stage space. This main track 4t comprises rails 8,9, these rails being of any suitable material, such as iron or steel.For a purpose hereinafter referred to,` the rails 8, 9, are raisedsomewhat above the level of Vthe stage floor and are supported orcarried by standards 10 secured to the floor of the stage by bolts 11 orin any other suitable manner. The outer rail 9 of the main track is, asshown, arranged somewhat higher than the inner rail 8 (see Fig. 9) onthe curved portions of the track, the track being thus banked to preventany liability of the train leaving the tack on the curves. The rails areas shown H shaped in cross section to provide hanged guideways 13, 14,in which the cars are supported and guided as hereinafter described.

To conceal the track construction from the view of the audience, thereis provided along the exhibiting' portion 5 of the main track masking 12(see Figs. 1 and 7), the rest of l the track system being concealed bythe ordinary wing masking 2Q usually employed. The masking 12 is asshown of sufficient height to conceal the rails and the supportingstandards, but is low enough to allow -the passing train to be plainlyseen. While the portion of the main track not taken up by the exhibitingportion 5 may be and is used for storage purposes temporarily, as willhereinafter be described, a storage track proper is necessary and such astorage track is provided. This storage track G is, like the main track,positioned on the stage and preferably, to `economize space, is locatedinside the main track and follows the contour thereof. This storagetrack is of any necesor desired length, a length of about two-thirds ofthe main track,'as shown, however, is found usually to be suflicient.The storage track is, like the main track, raised or elevated above thefloor level of the stage, as shown, for a purpose hereinafter referredto, and comprises two rails 15, 16 carried and supported by standards 17(see Fig. 5). As the storage track preferably follows the contour of themain track, it is arranged as close thereto as is possible, and forconvenience of construction the inner rail S of the main track, and theouter rail 16 of the storage track, are carried and supported by doublestandards, one of these standards being shown in Fig. 5 and marked 18.The rails of the storage track, like the rails of the main track, are ofiron or steel, or any other suitable material, and are H shaped in crosssection, forming flanged guideways 19, 20 (see Fig. 5), in whichguideways the cars are guided and supported as hereinafter described.)Vhere the storage track has a curved portion, its outer rail 16 isslightly raised or banked to prevent the train, when in motion, leavingthe track at such point.

In order to permit the cars to be moved around the main track, afterleaving the storage track, as will be hereinafter explained, means areprovided by the present invention for disconnecting the main track andthe storage track. These means include a switch mechanism which ispreferably operated automatically by the train as it leaves the storagetrack, as hereinafter described. This switch mechanism may be somewhatvaried in construction. Preferably. however, and as shown, there isprovided a movable section, generally designated by the numeral 25. Inthe particular construction shown, this mov-able section is located atone end of t-he storage track on the curve at the left hand end of thetrack system. This movable section comprises two rails of iron or steel,or any other suitable material, H shaped in cross section, marked 26,2T. These rails are pivotally supported, one 1ail 2G being pivoted at apoint Q8 at the junction of the inner rail 8 of the main track, and theouter rail 1G of the storage track, b v a pin 29. The other rail 2T ispivoted by a. pin 21 to the end of the inner rail 15 of the storagetrack. These two rails 2G, 2 of this movable section are supported onstandards Q3, 24|-V (see Fig. 9) which standards are in turn supportedand united by a cross bar or link 30, so that the two rails may be movedtogether'. A second supporting standard 2st located at the end of rail2T is provided, this standard having a roller Q4 resting on the floor ofthe stage. Means for guiding` this movable section during its switchingmovements are provided. In the particular construction shown a curvedguide-plate 3Q is firmly secured to the stage ioor, which guide plateextends to the limit of the swinging movement of the movable section ineither direction. This guide-plate is i as llt)

provided with a slot 33 (see Fig. 9) in which slot a guide-roll 35 isadaptedto run. This guide-roll 35 is as shown mounted on a stud 31carried in a bracket 36 fast on the standard 23, this roll being mountedso as to be freely movable. The outer rail 26 of the movable section 25when said section is located on a curve, as in the present instance, israised slightly higher than the inner rail 27, so as to form a bank, andprevent any tendency of the train leaving the track at that point. Asthis rail 26 is higher than rail 27 when it is swung over to theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, in which position it takes theplace of rail 27 means must be provided for lowering the rail 26 to thelevel of rail 27 when it is in the latter position. In the constructionshown, the slot 83 in the guide-plate 32 is inclined as shown in Fig. 9,the incline extending from the outer to the inner end of the plate. Themovable section being pivoted, as it swings from the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 7 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11,the guide-rail 85 pulls down or depresses the rail as it is moved. Theguideslo-t is inclined to an extent suflicient to depress the rail tothe required height.

The means provided for moving the swinging or movable section 25, so asto disconnect the main track from the storage track, may be somewhatvaried. In the best construct-ions, said means will include a trippingmechanism which, as hereinafter described, will be automaticallyoperated by the end of the train as it leaves the storage track. Asshown, this tripping mechanism includes a weight 37 (see Fig. 9) againstthe pull of which the movable section is normally held in the positionshown in full lines in Fig. 7, through the following instrumentalities.

t 0n the inner side of the inner rail 8 of the main track 4, just beyondthe end of the movable section is secured an eye 38, in which eye issecured a sliding bolt or bar 39, which bolt or bar, at one end,overlaps the inner side of the rail 27 of the movable section, thesection being pulled against said bolt or bar by the action of theweight, the p The other rail bearing against this bolt.. end of the boltor bar is provided with an upright arm 40 (see Fig. 11) which extends upinto the path of movementof the car as hereinafter described. From theweight 37 extends a cable of rope or wire 41, this cable passing over apulley 42 on a standard 43, this rope or cable being secured to an eye44 fast on the inner side of the rail 27 of the movable section. W'henthe bolt or bar 39 is moved so that its end no longer laps over onto theend of the rail 27, the section is swung over by the pull of the weightand the main track disconnected from the storage track. To limit theswinging movement of the section there is provided a stop 46 secured onthe inner side of the rail 15, which stop is adapted to abut against theinnerside of the rail 27 when the section has been swung over, thisblock or stop being so arranged as to stop the swinging movement of thesection when the rail 26 has been moved to its proper position. Theouter rail 9 of the main track is provided with an extension or frog 47,with which extension the rail 26 of the swinging section is in line whensaid section is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 9, thisextension or frog 47 being provided to make the track continuous andkeep the cars from leaving the track at the junction of the swingingsection and the main track. The outer rail 9 of the main track isprovided for a purpose hereinafter referred to with an additional flange34, this flange being shown in the drawings in Figs. 3, 5 and 7.

As before stated, to give the effect of a long moving train with aconstruction employing only one or two cars, it is necessary to have theengine (the particular construction of which will be hereinafterdescribed) disconnected from the car construction after it has oncepassed the view of the audience, the car construction continuing aroundthe track in full view of the audience. Means for accomplishing thisdesired eect are provided for by the present inventions, which meanswill'now be described in detail. In the construction shown, there isprovided a side track?, before referred to.

This side track is located so asto allow the engine to run thereon assoon as it has passed from before the view of the audience, in thisinstance the track being located at the left hand side of the tracksystem. This side track 7 is a little longer than necessary toaccommodate the engine construction, so as to allow for the momentum ofthe engine as it runs on the track. For the purpose of economizing stageroom, this side track follows the contour of the main track 4. Like theother tracks of the system, the-side track comprises two rails 50, 51,support-ed on and carried by standards 52 suitably secured to the stagefloor as by bolts These rails 50, 51 are of iron, steel or any othersuitable material, and are H shaped in cross section so as toformflanged -guideways 54, 55, for

guiding and supporting the engine as it' ency of the engine to leave therails on the curve.

Means are provided preferably for automatically switching the engine offonto this side track. In the preferred construction and as shown thereis provided a guide rail 5G, which guide rail coacts with means carriedby the engine, and hereinafter described, to pull the engine away fromthe main track. This guide rail 5G is of iron, steel or any othersuitable material, and is supported on or carried by suitable standards5T. As shown in Fig. this rail is somewhat higher than the rails 50, 51of the side track, and this guide rail 5G is furthermore arranged toextend somewhat beyond the side track and along the main track (see Fig.T), this construction permitting the picking up of the engine while itis still on the main track and insuring its proper switching off. At thepoint where it is desired to have the engine leave the main track andpass onto the side track, the 1ail is given a gradual rise, as shown at58 in Fig. 6, this rise acting in conjunction with certain means carriedby the engine hereinafter described to pull the engine from the maintrack and at the same time raise it above the level of said main track.A stop or bumper GO is or may be provided at the end of the side trackto prevent the engine running ofi'1 the track, if its momentum is toogreatwhen leaving the main track.

The outer rail 9 lof t-he main track 4f is provided as before statedwith an additional holding fiange 34, this flange eX- tending along themajor portion of the rail as shown in Fig. 7. At a point just before theside track branches olf, this flange 34 is discontinued (see Fig. 7) andthe outer flange of the H shaped outer rail 9 is also cutaway at thesame point, as shown in cross section in Fig. 12, this constructionbeing adopted for reasons which will be hereinafter mentioned.

One of the objects of the present invention is to. produce the effect ofa long train with a comparatively short engine and car construction, asbefore stated. An engine and car construction of improved character is,therefore, provided for producing such effect, and such constructionwill new be described, the engine, for convenience, being describedfirst, with reference particularly to Figs. 5 and (S of the drawings.shown is constructed to give the appearance of an electric engine,though of course any other form of motor may be employed, an electricengine being used particularly because with such engines itis.unnecessary to employ any lire or smoke producing devices, which aredangerous. The particular construction of the engine may be somewhatvaried. As the curves of the track system, around which the engine hasto run, are

The engine A necessarily short and sharp, the engine has to beconstructed Vso that it will not be injured by breaking apart orotherwise in taking such curves. The engine is therefore in the bestconstructions and as shown built sectionally, the sections beingpivotally connected together so as to allow the necessary amount of playwhen rounding the curves. As shown, the side walls of the engine markedG1 are made up of a number of sections 62 (see Fig. C), these sectionsbeing preferably iu the form of thin plates of sheet iron or steel,though other suitable material may be employed. These plates G2 aresecured together so as to have a certain limited amount of play, byhinges 63 located at thc top and bottom of the sections, these hingesallowing the sections to swing as the engine rounds the curves. A top orroof Gi is provided and the interior of the engine structure may bestrengthened by suitable braces 65 and cross bars GG. Guiding andretaining means for holding the engine on the various tracks of thesystem and guiding it thereon are provided, which means may be somewhatvaried. In the preferred construction and as shown (see Fig. 5) thereare provided shafts 67 suitably journaled in plates G7 located in thelower ends of the side plates 62 on which shafts are mounted guiding andretaining rollers 68, these rollers being provided on each side of theengine. These rollers are adapted to run in the guideways formed by theflanges of the H shaped rails, in the particular construction shown,t-he upper guidevvays of these rails. For further guiding and retainingthe engine on the track, there is provided a third guiding roller 69carried on a stud 70 secured in one of the plates 67, which guidingroller is adapted to run beneath and bear against the additional flange34 which is provided on the outside rail 9 of the main track.

Means are provided on the engine for automatically switching it from themain track 4 onto the side track 7 hereinbefore described. These meansmay be somewhat varied. As shown, there are provided rollers 71 havingflanges 72, a sufficient number of these rollers being provided toinsure the proper guiding of the engine. These flanged rollers 71 arecarried on studs 73 mounted in plates secured in the side plates G2 ofthe engine. These flanged rollers 71 are located on the outer side ofthe engine and are so positioned as to engage the raised guide-rail 56hereinbefore referred to. As the engine moves along the main track,these flanged rollers 71 come in contact with the rail 56, on which therollers ride so that, as the engine continues its movement, it is pulledon' from the main track onto the side track and at the same time whenthe rollers strike the raised portion 58 of the guide-rail the engine islifted and the guide-rollers 68 are lifted out of the guideways of the Hshaped rails of the main track. A further roller 71 supported in abracket secured to one of the plates G2 is provided which roller isarranged to bear against the inner sides of the rail 56, and hold theengine on the rails as it moves around the side track. This constructionenables the engine to be switched off onto the side track automatically.To check the momentum of the engine, after it has been switched off ontothe side track, a brake is or may be employed, this brake comprising apivoted handle 75 and shoe 75 which works against the guide-roller 63,it being shown in loose position in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

The particular car construction employed may be somewhat varied. Theconstruction will, however, be of a length sufcient to just encircle themain track, so that after the en-- gine has been switched off onto theside track, the carconstruction may be kept moving continuously aroundthe main track and thus give the effect of a train composed of a numberof cars. A construction representing one or more cars may be employed.In the peculiar construction shown there are two such cars, the specificconstruction of which will now be described in detail, with especialreference to Figs. 3 and t. For the reason hereinbefore referred to inconnection with the engine, the cars comprise several sections pivotallysecured together so as to allow a certain amount of play and permit thecars to take the curves without being damaged. As shown, (see Fig. 4)the side walls of the cars are composed of a plurality of sections,preferably in the form of platesv of thin sheet iron or steel, which aremarked 77, these plates being pivotally secured to each other by hinges7 8 at the tops and bottoms of the plates, and each section is providedwith cross-pieces 78 forming rests or seats for the passengers. The topor roof of the car 79 is formed by a number of plates 80, put togetherso as to have the same limited amount of play as the side plates whenthe cars take the curves, the plates being slidingly arranged so as toopen up or spread apart on the curves. Suitable strengthening braces S1are provided, as shown. l

The cars are supported on and guided around the track in any suitablemanner. In the construction shown there are provided guiding rollers 82,these guiding rollers being provided on each side of the car as shown inFig. 3, and a set of these rollers is preferably provided for eachsection, these rollers acting both to support and guide the car. Theserollers S2 are mounted on studs 83 carried by brackets 84E suitablysecured to the undersides of the side plates 77, these rollers beingadapted to run in the upper guideways of the H shaped rails of the tracksystem. On the outer side, that is, the side facing the stage, the caris provided with additional guiding roller 85, which guiding roller isadapted to run in the under guideway formed by the H shaped fiangedrail, this guiding roller 85 beingA carried on a stud 86 mounted in abracket 37, said bracket being supported on a plate 8S carried byhangers 89 suitably secured to the bottom portion of the car. On accountof the switch mechanism hereinbefore referred to, this roller can onlybe provided on the outer side of the car, as will be readily understood.For strengthening the inner side of the car, a roller 90 is providedwhich is adapted to bear against the side of the inner flange of the Hshaped rail, this roller 90 being carried on a stud 91 secured to abracket 92 carried by a frame work 93 hereinafter referred to. Thisconstruction of guide rollers makes a very firm support for the car andmakes it impossible for the car to leave the rails at any point .of itstravel around the track system.

The cars may be moved around the track in any suitable manner. In theparticular construction shown the framework 93 before referred to issuitably supported on the bottom of the car and carries at its lower endracks 94, these racks being short racks, a rack being preferablyprovided for each one of the plate sections 77 of the car, so that itwill be possible for the racks to pass around the short curves of thetrack system. These racks extend continuously beneath the cars exceptfor a shortvspace between the meeting ends of the two cars, as shown inFig. l, this space being left so that the two cars can come together atthe switch section of the system as will be later on referred to. Chains95 secured in eyes 96 may be provided for binding the plate sectionsmore securely together, if desired, and a coupling device 97, foruniting the meeting ends of two cars, after they have passed the switchmechanism, may likewise be provided. Any suitable means for Vdriving thecars around the track system may be provided. A bar 96 is or may be alsoprovided by which the meeting ends of the cars may be united firmlytogether, this bar being put in place after the ends of the cars havecome together beyond the switch. In the construction shown, referring toFigs. 5 and 7, the driving mechanism comprises an electric motor 98, theshaft of which has a pinion 99 which meshes with a gear 100, which gearis carried on the end of ashaft 101,.

from the main shaft by chains 104. The gears 103, 106 carried by theseshafts are located centrally and between the rails and arranged to meshwith the racks 94 carried by the car sections 7T.

As hereinbefore stated, the main track is disconnected from the storagetrack by a tripping mechanism hereinbefore described, which trippingmechanism is automatically operated by the car as it leaves the storagetrack. These means, in the construction shown, comprise a trip bar 105secured to the rear one of the sections 77 of the car construction. Thistrip bar 105 extends down into the 'path of the arm i0 of the bar orbolt 39, by which the switch mechanism is controlled, this trip bar 105tending to pull the bar 39 from the eye-bolt 3S, allowing they weight 37to act and to automatically swing t-he switch and disconnect the mainand storage tracks.

IVhile, from the foregoing description, the construction of the devicesof the present invention is clear, a brief description of the operationand the various movements of the train around the track system will begiven.

Assuming the engine and the two cars to be in the position shown in Fig.2, the motor isV started and through the driving mechanism described thegears 106 located on the storage track are turned and, meshing with theracks 9st, move the train around the track system. As the train movesaround, the engine and the first car pass along the main track f1 beforethe view of the audience. Then the engine has passed the View of theaudience, it is pickedv up by the guide rail 56 and switched off fromthe main track onto the side track 7, the flanged guide rolls 71 riding`on the guide railA 56. As the forward movement of the engine continues,the fianged guide rolls 71 strike the raised portion 5S of the guiderail 56, and the engine is raised up or lifted at thesame time as it ispulled from the main track onto the side track, this lifting of theengine disengaging the supporting and guiding rolls 68 from the guideways of the flanged rails of the main track, the holding flange 34e onthe main track being cutaway atthis point, as hereinbefore described,and the guide rolls 68 being lifted out of the guide ways of the flangedrails of said main track, the engine is free to move along the sidetrack and thus becomes disconnected from the train. rlhe carconstruction, however, having no means for coacting with the guide rails56, continues along on the main track 1, being moved along by the gears103 meshing with the racks 9st on the bottom of the car. IVhile theengine is being switched ofl' onto the side track, the

C rear end of the second car, which as shown in Fig. 2 was originallypositioned on the storage track, has reached and just passed from theswitch mechanism, and the forward end of the frontcar has caught up withand joined the rear of the second car. As soon as the rear end of thesecond car has passed the end of the moving section Q5, and just beforethe front of the second car reaches said section, the trip bar ortrigger 105 has come into contact with the arm 4:0 of the sliding boltor bar 39 and has withdrawn said bar from the eye 38 and thus hasallowed the moving section 25 to swing over to the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 7. This swinging movement takes place just as thefront end of the first car comes in contact with the rear end of thesecond car. The two cars then form one continuous construction, asheretofore described, and are moved around the main track as long as isnecessary to give the effect required, the cars being moved by thedriving gears 103, before referred to.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the specificconstruction shown and described, but that changes and variations may bemade in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention.

that I claim is 1. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect ofa moving train, the combination of ,a track, an engine and car arrangedto pass in view of an audience, means for moving' the engine and cararound the track, and means for separating the engine from the car andconcealing the engine after it has once passed in view and at the sametime permitting the car to continue to pass in view as long as desired.

2. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a moving train,the combination of a track, an engine and car arranged to pass in viewof an audience, means for moving the engine and car around the track,and means for automatically separating the engine from the car andconcealing the en-` gine after it has once passed in view and at thesame time permitting the car to continue to pass in view as long asdesired.

3. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a moving train,the combination of a main track having an exhibiting portion, a trainarranged to pass in View of an audience, a storage track normallyconnected with the main track on which storage track a part of the trainis stored, means for moving the part of the train from the storage trackon to the main track. and a switch mechanism for disconnecting thestorage track from the main track after the train has left the storagetrack.

4. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a moving train,the combination of a main track having an exhibiting portion, a trainarranged to pass in View of an audience, a storage track normallyconmechanism for automatically disconnecting the storage track from themain track after the train has left the storage track.

5. In a theatrical apparatus for producingv the effect of a movingtrain, the combination of a main track having an exhibiting portion, atrain arranged to pass in view of' an audience, a storage track normallyconnected with the main track on which storage track a part of the trainis stored, means for moving the part of' the train from the storagetrack onto the main track, and a switch mechanism automatically operatedby the train as it leaves the storage track for disconnecting saidstorage track from the main trftck.

6. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a moving train,the combination of a main track having an exhibiting' portion, an engineand a portion of a train positioned on the track ready to be moved inview of an audience, means for moving the engine and said portion of thetrain along the track in view of an audience, means for separating theengine from the front portion of the train and concealing the engine, astorage tra-ck on which another portion of the train is stored, saidstorage track being normally connected with the main track, means formoving the train from the storage track onto the maintrack, and a switchmechanism for disconnecting the storage track and main track after thetrain has passed from the storage track onto the main track whereby thetwo portions of the train come together and forma continuous train.

7. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a moving train,the combination of a main track having an exhibiting portion, a storageytrack normally connected with the main track, a movable section, meansfor moving said section to disconnect the storage track from the maintrack, and masking arranged to conceal the storage track.

8. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a moving train,the combination of a main track having an exhibiting portion, a storagetrack normally connected to the main track, a pivoted section, means forswinging said section to disconnect the storage track from the maintrack, and masking arranged to conceal the storage track.

9. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a moving train,the combination of a main track having an exhibiting portion, a storagetrack normally connected with the main track, a movable section, andmeans for automatically moving said section to disconnect the storagetrack from the main track.

10. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a movingtrain, the combination of a main track having' an exhibiting portion, astorage track normally connected with 'the main track, a pivoted sectionthereon, and means for automatically swinging said section to disconnectthe storage track from the main track.

11. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a movingtrain, the combination of a main track, a storage track normallyconnected lwith the main track, a movable section comprising two rails,one of said rails being higher than the other, means for moving saidsection to disconnect the storage track from the main track, and meansfor depressing the higher of said rails to the level of the lower ofsaid rails.

12. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the eect of a moving train,the combination of a main track having an exhibiting portion, a storagetrack normally connected to the main track, a pivoted section, means forautomatically moving said section to disconnect the storage track fromthe main track, and a guide for guiding said section during itsmovement.

13. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a movingtrain, the combination of a main track having an exhibiting portion, a.storage track normally connected to the main track, a pivoted section,a tripping device operating automatically to move the section todisconnect the storage track from the main track,`and a guide forguiding said section during its swinging movement.

14. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a movingtrain, the combination of a main track having an exhibiting portion, astorage track normally connected to the main track, a pivoted section, atripping device operating automatically to swing the section todisconnect the storage track from the main track, a guide for guidingsaid section during its swinging move-l ment, and a stop for limitingthe movement of the section.

15. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a movingtrain, the combination of a main track having an exhibiting portion, astorage track normally connected to the main track, a pivoted section, atripping device operating automatically to swing the section todisconnect the storage track from the main track, said tripping dcviceincluding a weight, and a guide for guiding said section during itsmovement.

16. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect of a movingtrain,` the combination of' a main track, a storage track normallyconnected with the main track, a movable section comprising two rails,means for moving said section to disconnect the storage track from themain track, a guide plate having a slot and a guide roller carried byone ot said rails engaging said slot for guiding said section during itsmovement.

l?. In a theatrical apparatus for producing thc eltect ot a. movingtrain, the combination ot' a main track, a storage track normallyconnected with the main track, a movable section comprising two railsone ot` said rails being` higher than the other, means for moving saidsection to disconnect the storage track from the main track, a guideplate having an inclined slot and a guide roller carried by one ot saidrails engaging said inclined slot whereby as the section is moved thehigher rail is depressed to the level of the lower rail.

1S. In a theatrical apparatus tor producing the etlect oi a movingtrain, the combination ol a main track having an exhibit-ing portion, anengine and cars thereon means tor moving the engine and cars along theexhibiting portion in view ot' an audience, a side track, and means forguiding the engine on to the side track after it has passed theexhibiting portion, the cars continuing along the main track.

19. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect. of a movingtrain, the combination ot' a main track having an exhibiting portion, anengine and cars thereon, means for moving the engine and cars along theexhibiting portion in view of an audience, a side track, and means forautomatically guiding the engine on to the side track after it haspassed the exhibiting portion, the cars continuing along the main track.

20. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the etfect of a movingtrain, the combination oit' a main track having an exhibiting portion,an engine and cars thereon, means t'or moving the engine and cars alongthe exhibiting portion, a side track, a guide rail along the side trackarranged to engage with rollers on the engine for drawing the engineonto the side track after it has passed the exhibiting portion, the carscontinuing` along the main track.

21. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the ettect of a movingtrain, the combination of a main track having an exhibiting portion, anengine and cars thereon means for moving the engine and cars along theexhibiting portion, a side track rising gradually from the main track, aguide rail along the side track arranged to engage with guide rollers onthe engine for drawing the engine onto the side track and raising itabove the main track, after it has passed the exhibiting portion, thecars continuing along the main track.

In a theatrical apparatus for producing the eliect oll a moving train,the combination of an elliptical main track having an exhibitingportion, a storage track located inside the main track, masking arrangedbetween the main and storage tracks, a train, and driving means formoving the train around the tracks.

23. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the etllect ot' a movingtrain, the combination ot an elliptical main track having an exhibiting`portion, a storage track located inside the main track, a train, meansfor moving a train on both tracks simultaneously and at the same speed,and masking arranged to conceal the portion ot' the train on the storagetrack.

2l. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the ett'ect of a movingtrain, the combination ol a track, a construction simulating a railroadpassenger car comprising a plurality oit sections positioned thereon,driving gears positioned in the path of the car, and a rack carried bythe car and arranged to directly engage with the driving gears wherebythe car is moved around the track.

In a theatrical apparatus Jr'or producing the effectot' a. moving train,the combination ot a track, a car comprising a plurality of sectionspositioned thereon, driving gears positioned in the path of the car, anda plurality of racks, one carried by each ot' the iar sections, arrangedto engage with the driving gears whereby the car is moved along thetrack.

Q6. In a theatrical apparatus for producing` the eitect of a movingtrain, the combination ot a main track, a storage track normallyconnected to the main track, a pivoted section, a tripping deviceincluding a pin on the main track against which pin the pivoted sectionis drawn by a weight, a car positioned on the storage track, and a tripbar carried by the car tor removing the pin whereby the track section ismoved by the pull ot' the weight to disconnect the storage track fromthe main track.

27. In a theatrical apparatus for producing the effect ot' a movingtrain, a track system comprising a main track, a storage track, and aside track, these tracks comprising rails H shaped in cross section toform guideways, the outer rails on the main track having an additionalholding flange.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. SULLIVAN.

Witnesses:

J. A. GnAvns,

I. B. PE1-LPP.

